Mumbai blasts not suicide attacks: Maha ATS

PHOTO: Mandar Deodhar/India Today

PHOTO: Mandar Deodhar/India Today

PHOTO: Mandar Deodhar/India Today

PHOTO: Mandar Deodhar/India Today

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Investigators on Saturday claimed they have obtained "good leads" in the triple explosions in Mumbai, ruled out involvement of a suicide bomber and said a suspect's sketch may be prepared soon.Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Chief Rakesh Maria said investigations were moving in a "certain direction" but refused to elaborate.He also said sketch of a probable suspect would be prepared soon based on certain eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage at a blast site.Maria also made it clear that till the case is "cracked" and people involved are in the custody of the police they would not like to speculate which group was involved.

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He claimed the identification of persons seen in the CCTV footages was on and stated that photograph of an individual seen in the footage needed more verification."At this stage, I can say we have good leads and I am not in a position to reveal what the clues are. I can very confidently say, the investigations are probably moving in a certain direction," Maria said."After visiting the blast sites, we can now rule out the possibility of suicide bomber," the ATS chief added.

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"Through the CCTV footage, we do have a photograph at one of the locations that needs more verification and investigations. Our teams are on the job to identify who that individual is," Maria said.The Additional DG said Maharashtra ATS and the Crime branch teams questioned some previously arrested accused in MP in connection with the blasts."Our teams are fanned out at various places and (have) questioned a number of people having links with various modules arrested in the past in a bid to get leads in the case," Maria said while responding to another question.Nobody had been detained so far, he said.

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Asserting that the underworld angle, if any, will be examined, Maria said, "Till the time we arrest the accused, it is inappropriate to say which group or outfit was involved in the blasts."When asked if any phone calls were received before the blasts and whether Intelligence Bureau (IB) intercepted any calls after or before the explosions, the IPS officer said, "There are calls received post blasts at various control rooms in the city and other controls rooms in and outside the state that had been verified except one call which needs to be verified."Elaborating on phone calls received in Buldana and Aurangabad, Maria said, "There were calls after two blasts (informing) that third blast would take place veracity of which is being ascertained."

<P>Investigators on Saturday claimed they have obtained "good leads" in the triple explosions in Mumbai, ruled out involvement of a suicide bomber and said a suspect's sketch may be prepared soon.<BR>Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Chief Rakesh Maria said investigations were moving in a "certain direction" but refused to elaborate.<BR>He also said sketch of a probable suspect would be prepared soon based on certain eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage at a blast site.<BR>Maria also made it clear that till the case is "cracked" and people involved are in the custody of the police they would not like to speculate which group was involved.</P>

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<P>He claimed the identification of persons seen in the CCTV footages was on and stated that photograph of an individual seen in the footage needed more verification.<BR>"At this stage, I can say we have good leads and I am not in a position to reveal what the clues are. I can very confidently say, the investigations are probably moving in a certain direction," Maria said.<BR>"After visiting the blast sites, we can now rule out the possibility of suicide bomber," the ATS chief added.</P>

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<P>"Through the CCTV footage, we do have a photograph at one of the locations that needs more verification and investigations. Our teams are on the job to identify who that individual is," Maria said.<BR>The Additional DG said Maharashtra ATS and the Crime branch teams questioned some previously arrested accused in MP in connection with the blasts.<BR>"Our teams are fanned out at various places and (have) questioned a number of people having links with various modules arrested in the past in a bid to get leads in the case," Maria said while responding to another question.<BR>Nobody had been detained so far, he said.<BR></P>

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<P>Asserting that the underworld angle, if any, will be examined, Maria said, "Till the time we arrest the accused, it is inappropriate to say which group or outfit was involved in the blasts."<BR>When asked if any phone calls were received before the blasts and whether Intelligence Bureau (IB) intercepted any calls after or before the explosions, the IPS officer said, "There are calls received post blasts at various control rooms in the city and other controls rooms in and outside the state that had been verified except one call which needs to be verified."<BR>Elaborating on phone calls received in Buldana and Aurangabad, Maria said, "There were calls after two blasts (informing) that third blast would take place veracity of which is being ascertained."<BR></P>